Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Up to #12 on this week's ROCK chart (Up 2 spots from #14)

Up to #20 on this week's ACTIVE ROCK chart (Up 1 spot from #21)


 :beer:

Additionally, "Chinese Democracy" is still #10 on the ROCK chart as well!  : ok:

Great news! I Love BETTER! :beer:

Where did you see this information?

When I looked at All Access, they had "Better" listed at #14 on Mainstream Rock and #19 on Active Rock.

Ali

I think if this video gets released, has YouTube success, it will have the PC effect for this album - there are still so many people who don't even know there is new GnR material out...is CD just a  slow burner like AFD was?  : ok:

I heard it for the first time on my station.

i think word is spreading that a new gnr video is about to be released.  i think people remember what a major event a gnr video is, and they're excited to see how axl and the guys further broaden our ideas of what music videos can be. 

www.radioandrecords.com

When I get back to work tomorrow, I can check Mediabase 24/7 to see what they say. I don't have access to it at home.

 :)   
   
ROCK MOST INCREASED PLAYS
   
GUNS N' ROSES BETTER
BLACK FROG/GEFFEN/INTERSCOPE

Yup.  : ok:

Put out the video!!!

The time is now...

Cool.  I don't understand the difference  in the numbers between the two websites, though.

Do you know how often those charts are updated?  I think Mediabase updates every day.

Ali

this cd willlll growwwwwwwwww

Better the best song on CD and probaly gonna be huge when the video comes out.

ive been hearing the song a bunch of times here in the bay area rock stations

I haven't heard it much on my local rock station, but they play Chinese Democracy at least twice a day that I hear, so probably more than that. I only hear Better on occasion.

Is it the album version or a slightly edited version they play?

I still haven't heard it on the radio in Los Angeles.

Been requesting the fuck out of it.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

they play it a lot on our local hard rock station. But you guys are right! I hate to bitch, but the time is now for the video. Hope it gets aired soon.

I'm looking forward to the video, but am  not expecting a triology type video..Probably will be more basic a cross between Patience and Live and Let Die..

I'm expecting to see dexter vs the Giant robo in it.  >:(

Good news. Go Better!

The way I see it is like this: Remember the scene in the video Estranged where Axl jumped into the ocean and was waiting for th dolphins to come. Than he grabbed on to one and took off........well Chinese Democracy is in that ocean.....and it's waiting for one of those dolphins.................(Hey......do hear that? It sounds like dolphins whistling...........)  :beer:

Yeah - Mediabase keeps track of daily charting positions, whereas Radio and Records only publishes a weekly chart.

Active
7-Day Report : By Rank
Published (U.S.) - Rolling Chart   
lw: Jan 1 - Jan 7 TW: Jan 8 - Jan 14  Currents Only Currents & Recurrents 
 
Rank   Spins   
lw TW Artist Title TW lw Move Aud/mill
1 1  SHINEDOWN Second Chance 2060 2087 -27 7.837
2 2  DISTURBED Indestructible 1961 2005 -44 7.448
3 3  MUDVAYNE Do What You Do 1861 1863 -2 6.457
5 4  SEETHER Breakdown 1772 1729 43 6.050
4 5  APOCALYPTICA I Don't Care f/Adam ... 1614 1801 -187 6.436
6 6  NICKELBACK Something In Your Mo... 1585 1542 43 5.188
7 7  SAVING ABEL 18 Days 1426 1424 2 4.610
9 8  HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD Undead 1232 1181 51 3.634
11 9  SLIPKNOT Dead Memories 1203 1177 26 3.529
8 10  AC/DC Rock 'n Roll Train 1155 1348 -193 5.128
10 11  THEORY OF A DEADMAN Bad Girlfriend 1113 1179 -66 5.045
13 12  AVENGED SEVENFOLD Scream 1031 1000 31 3.133
12 13  OFFSPRING You're Gonna Go Far,... 1030 1137 -107 3.956
15 14  METALLICA Cyanide 1012 935 77 3.742
14 15  SALIVA Family Reunion 960 955 5 3.182
16 16  THEORY OF A DEADMAN Hate My Life 938 928 10 2.991
17 17  FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Stranger Than Fictio... 874 914 -40 2.577
18 18  METALLICA The Day That Never C... 764 898 -134 3.205
19 19  GUNS N' ROSES Better 761 775 -14 2.768  
21 20  DROWNING POOL 37 Stitches 707 701 6 1.887
20 21  RISE AGAINST ReEducation (Through... 667 714 -47 2.012
23 22  ALL THAT REMAINS Two Weeks 608 586 22 1.465
22 23  BUCKCHERRY Rescue Me 579 628 -49 2.278
26 24  POP EVIL 100 In A 55 523 517 6 1.228
25 25  REV THEORY Light It Up 501 534 -33 1.598
27 26  HOOBASTANK My Turn 449 494 -45 1.227
24 27  GUNS N' ROSES Chinese Democracy 448 544 -96 1.926  

primarily being played on these Active Rock stations

GUNS N' ROSES
Better
Sorted By Spins LEADERS: The Top 20 rotation leaders on a title within the selected format, and their spins.
lw: Jan 1 - Jan 7 TW: Jan 8 - Jan 14  Leaders Starters 
 
  Spins Sorted By Daypart   
Station Market Format TW lw +/- ovn am mid pm eve Aud/mill
KZRQ-FM Springfield, MO Active 32 31 1 10 2 3 8 9 0.041
WJRR-FM Orlando Active 31 35 -4 9 1 8 6 7 0.206
KBPI-FM Denver Active 25 27 -2 5 3 5 5 7 0.196
WRZK-FM Johnson City Active 25 24 1 7 3 5 4 6 0.046
WNFZ-FM Knoxville Active 24 27 -3 5 5 5 4 5 0.054
KDOT-FM Reno, NV Active 21 24 -3 7 2 6 1 5 0.032
WRXR-FM Chattanooga Active 20 20 - 6 1 6 3 4 0.036
KQRC-FM Kansas City Active 20 18 2 10 1 3 2 4 0.143
WCHZ-FM Augusta, GA Active 19 19 - 7 1 3 4 4 0.019
WZBH-FM Salisbury, MD Active 19 22 -3 7 - 3 - 9 0.023
KRZR-FM Fresno Active 19 16 3 5 - 5 4 5 0.034
WIYY-FM Baltimore Active 19 18 1 11 - - - 8 0.053
WBYR-FM Ft. Wayne, IN Active 19 20 -1 5 1 6 3 4 0.054
KILO-FM Colorado Springs Active 19 18 1 5 1 5 2 6 0.076
WAAF-FM Boston Active 19 19 - 7 - - 5 7 0.083
KISW-FM Seattle Active 19 20 -1 12 - 1 2 4 0.130
KBOB-FM Quad Cities, IA- Active 18 18 - 7 2 3 5 1 0.025
WFTK-FM Cincinnati Active 18 22 -4 5 1 5 3 4 0.072
WTKX-FM Pensacola, FL Active 16 17 -1 4 2 4 3 3 0.079
KHTB-FM Salt Lake City Active 16 16 - 5 1 3 4 3 0.066
WWIZ-FM Youngstown, OH Active 16 23 -7 3 4 3 2 4 0.020
WRXW-FM Jackson, MS Active 15 1 14 7 - - 5 3 0.007
WRUF-FM Gainesville Active 15 18 -3 7 - 3 1 4 0.018
WXZZ-FM Lexington, KY Active 15 22 -7 7 1 5 2 - 0.018
WKLQ-FM Grand Rapids Active 15 20 -5 5 - 4 5 1 0.034
KAZR-FM Des Moines Active 15 16 -1 6 - 1 3 5 0.037
KZZQ-FM Salt Lake City Active 14 13 1 6 - 1 2 5 0.000
WBSX-FM Wilkes-Barre Active 14 10 4 6 - - - 8 0.024
WAQX-FM Syracuse Active 14 12 2 3 2 3 2 4 0.039
KEGL-FM Dallas Active 14 2 12 7 - - 1 6 0.075
WRIF-FM Detroit Active 14 10 4 2 1 3 4 4 0.198
S020-FM SiriusXM Active 14 15 -1 3 2 5 1 3 0.225
WXTB-FM Tampa Active 13 14 -1 5 1 3 2 2 0.103
WRBR-FM South Bend, IN Active 12 19 -7 4 - 3 2 3 0.012
KCLB-FM Palm Springs, CA Active 12 5 7 3 - 3 3 3 0.012
KNRQ-FM Eugene, OR Active 12 15 -3 5 - 5 1 1 0.014
WJJO-FM Madison, WI Active 12 12 - 3 2 2 1 4 0.025
KLAQ-FM El Paso Active 11 16 -5 3 1 2 2 3 0.057
WTPT-FM Greenville, SC Active 11 9 2 1 - 2 5 3 0.049
KRXQ-FM Sacramento Active 10 18 -8 3 1 1 3 2 0.081
WIIL-FM Chicago Active 10 7 3 2 1 3 - 4 0.040
WLZX-FM Springfield, MA Active 9 9 - 1 - 1 5 2 0.026
KHBZ-FM Oklahoma City Active 9 7 2 9 - - - - 0.011

Mainstream Rock
7-Day Report : By Rank
Published (U.S.) - Rolling Chart   
lw: Jan 1 - Jan 7 TW: Jan 8 - Jan 14  Currents Only Currents & Recurrents 
 
Rank   Spins   
lw TW Artist Title TW lw Move Aud/mill
1 1  AC/DC Rock 'n Roll Train 422 459 -37 1.603
2 2  SHINEDOWN Second Chance 366 357 9 1.294
3 3  NICKELBACK Something In Your Mo... 349 344 5 1.312
4 4  APOCALYPTICA I Don't Care f/Adam ... 317 322 -5 1.421
5 5  THEORY OF A DEADMAN Bad Girlfriend 286 313 -27 1.085
7 6  DISTURBED Indestructible 274 283 -9 0.941
6 7  METALLICA The Day That Never C... 249 288 -39 0.901
8 8  GUNS N' ROSES Chinese Democracy 225 246 -21 0.850  
9 9  SEETHER Breakdown 215 221 -6 0.678
11 10  SAVING ABEL 18 Days 204 183 21 0.461
10 11  SAVING ABEL Addicted 178 193 -15 0.532
13 12  METALLICA Cyanide 173 150 23 0.707
12 13  MUDVAYNE Do What You Do 173 180 -7 0.465
15 14  GUNS N' ROSES Better 142 129 13 0.407  

primarily being played on these Mainstream Rock stations

GUNS N' ROSES
Better
Sorted By Spins LEADERS: The Top 20 rotation leaders on a title within the selected format, and their spins.
lw: Jan 1 - Jan 7 TW: Jan 8 - Jan 14  Leaders Starters 
 
click column headers to sort
  Spins Sorted By Daypart   
Station Market Format TW lw +/- ovn am mid pm eve Aud/mill
WZZO-FM Allentown  20 4 16 7 - 3 5 5 0.068
WQBK-FM Albany, NY  18 1 17 5 1 4 4 4 0.043
KRDJ-FM Lafayette, LA  18 14 4 3 5 3 4 3 0.016
KBER-FM Salt Lake City  16 14 2 12 - - 2 2 0.019
WHJY-FM Providence  12 9 3 5 - 1 1 5 0.062
KSHE-FM St. Louis  11 1 10 4 1 1 4 1 0.102
WEBN-FM Cincinnati  11 12 -1 3 2 1 - 5 0.095
KTUX-FM Shreveport, LA  9 9 - - - 4 1 4 0.009
WJXQ-FM Lansing  9 10 -1 4 - - 2 3 0.011
KFLY-FM Eugene, OR  9 8 1 3 1 1 3 1 0.012
WONE-FM Akron  9 7 2 3 - 1 1 4 0.019
KDKB-FM Phoenix  9 9 - 8 1 - - - 0.024
KEZO-FM Omaha  8 10 -2 3 - 2 2 1 0.022
WAPL-FM Appleton, WI  8 5 3 3 - 1 2 2 0.018
WMMS-FM Cleveland  8 8 - 6 - - - 2 0.011
WHEB-FM Portsmouth, NH  8 10 -2 4 - - - 4 0.006
KSAN-FM San Francisco  7 5 2 3 - - 1 3 0.045
WBBB-FM Raleigh  7 8 -1 3 - 2 1 1 0.026

Alternative
7-Day Report : By Rank
Published (U.S.) - Rolling Chart   
lw: Jan 1 - Jan 7 TW: Jan 8 - Jan 14

Neither song appeared on this week's Alt. chart.

I hope all of this means we'll get a video soon

Not a single spin reported in L.A.

 :no:

Hometown support my ass.

Your station may not be a reporting station. I.E. - they don't report their spins to Mediabase.

Yeah, I noticed that with also with New York.  No reporting from there either.

Ali

L.A pretty much doesnt have a rock station.  Not since what, KNAC and 100.3 Pirate radio?  Ahh...memories.

Nah... soon is the word

The song has only gained like 1 or 2 spots. I don?t know how major is that.

If you look at the chart, for the week it had the highest increase in spins.

Ali

Yeah, Better seems to be coming along, a slow burner perhaps.

I don't even listen to radio anymore. Too much crap on it lol.

At least it's still climbing.  It's a good sign that its spins have increased every week

In hindsight they probably should have released it as the first single, if only because it's complex and different (and good) enough to have quelled all the "14 years for this?"  bullshit

if you truly think its cool to come to a board about a band you don't like just to try to bring people down, you need to check your brain.

Good shit.....

I agree NOW is the time for the video.

 :yes:

Which in the end, is what REALLY matters. That just says that more stations are jumping on it and putting it into heavier rotation.

Never a bad thing.

I hear it every day on one of 3 stations: 2 out of Boston, 1 out of Providence. for such little fanfare, this one song is getting a decent amount of attention!

Yep.  The single is out and gaining some steam, still with no band promotion.

The time for the video is now.

If you think that just because someone doesn't think gaining 2 spots on rock charts is "major" steam that they don't like the song or the band, you need to check your brain.

well if you wuld use YOUR brain, you would see the poster I was talking to has a posting history and sig that is meant to antagonize GnR fans.

I wouldn't be surprised if the single would be re-released, just like they did with Jungle back in the days (and he advised Bach/skid row to do with Slave to the grind).

something that i think would put this away is if they would release This i Love as the next single. that song is so fucking awesome and will really be requested imo by alot of newer fans as well as old :peace:

I still haven't heard better on my local classic rock station, but they did play Street of Dreams. 

axl's managers are idiots if they don't do this!  this i love is garunteed to be the biggest single of the year.  no questions asked.  it could be the song that defines a generation, especially with obama's inaguration and a new american president.

 ???  You totally lost me.

well, it's nothing literal but just that people will be emotional and will want to have their hearts touched.  i can really imagine some inspiring montages about the history of black america set to the instrumental portions of this i love.  like from slavery to the presidency type stuff taht you see on tv all the time right now.

unrelated, but also black history month is a perfect time to release madagascar as a single because of the mlk jr. spoken word portion.  imagine how much more radio play that song would get because of it.  but first they've got to release teh better video!  only one single at a time!

I got to disagree with til as being this amazing song guaranteed to be song of the year. I like the song its got a great solo and axl's voice sounds great. However its not very commercial imo and I dont see it becoming a single and if it did I dont think it would be huge. Better is the most commercial song on the cd and its not setting the world on fire so I wouldnt get any hopes up for a major hit single of this album. Unforunetly I bellive that gnr did not take advantage of all the hype by releasing CD as the first single. That got play all over the day it was released and its not the type of song you hear once and love. Seems like everyone I talk to about gnr heard that teh first day and made their opinion of gnr then, not to mention they have done 0 press.

I I think Madagascar would fit better than TIL for a song to define a generation. I still love BETTER too!

Falungong, is this TIL song you speak of the GNR song???  Perhaps Madagascar, but not TIL.  I'll also agree Better would have been my choice for 1st single (even people who dog the new band dig this tune)...followed up by a beautiful ballad, SOD or TIL, take your pick.  Not ITW though, a bit too different for radio play.  All that said, considering Axl's marketing absence...would a different single really matter?  Perhaps Axl really doesn't care how many albums he sells.  That's cool by me.

that's ok the 1st single was like forewarning.

Apparently better is chosen for the 1st video, after all.

What was the reaction to that?

Nothing much either way.  She played it and then moved on to something else. 

well maybe madagascar would be a good one to define this generation, and this i love can define the next generation!   :beer:  honestly, i can't imagine a better song being written for several generations to come.

Sorry guys... but in reality I don't think 'This I Love' or 'Madagascar' are going to "Define a generation." Great tunes, don't get me wrong... but if either are released as a single, they won't change the world... so to speak.

no song changes the world. but maybe songs like better, scraped, madagascar can help people to change the world a bit.

Totally agree, very well said.  Maybe later on as a 4th or 5th single.

Hey All,

The notion that any song, composed by GNR or any other band, will change the world is ludicrous.  The fact that Better has done next to nothing on radio rotations should tell you where GNR is in the public eye.  The fact that we haven't seen a video for any songs tells me that those behind this record have given up on it.  Without a tour and promotion by the band, this thing is dead in the album.  While I appreciate the artistry put forth on This I Love, it would be suicidal to push this song as a single.  No offense, but few people will have their "hearts touched" by This I Love; most of the public will probably miss the point. 

Anyway, it's all mute as I don't see anymore money being spent to push this album until Axl gets a tour or something going.

Cheers,

Andrew

WBCN in Boston is playing Better in their regualr rotation which should open up the song to another audience.  Typically in Boston area, WAAF is the station that plays and discusses new GNR.  This is a good sign. 

Yeah I heard it on the radio for the first (and only) time a few days ago.

I heard it on 97.7 HTZ FM.

Better is played frequently on Sirius/XM Octane.  However, it didn't make the weekly countdown this week.  Let's change that for next week.  Go here to vote. 

http://www.sirius.com/octane

Click on "Request A Song" on the right hand side

I've also heard them play "Scraped" and "Shackler's Revenge" over the last few weeks.  But I think since "Better" is the current single that should be our main focus.  So request away.

I've been hearing it alot lately there too ! good o'l sirius.

has anyone in Australia heard it yet on the radio? ??? ???

These stupids radio stations dont play the new material here in SouthFlorida!....I get frustrated cuz they play just these new bands music and some AFD and UYI songs, I would love to hear Better in the radio   :smoking:

They don't play 'em here in Tampa either.

I heard 'Street of Dreams' on the radio at the end of last year, with my band listening in, who aren't huge GN'R fans. Well, not the new line-up. They were amazed...

maybe i have a lousy radio station but i've not heard it where I live and have requested it and they say that its not officially released yet

Nope

Heard CD a few times early and thats it, it was played as novelty value alone unfortunately. Ive burnt CD for a few mates who had no interest initially, and those friends suprisingly to me think the album is 'awesome' and have told theyre friends to buy it.

As a side note.

The friends I burnt the CD for all queried why he albums artwork was so poor and lyrics wrong.

I unfortunately told them ( I should know better by now....sigh) that a new version would be released shortly with new artwork and correct lyrics.....all were very eager to buy this.

Hopefully this 'official' version will be released soon, as im sure many people would buy it ( I personally feel a little ripped off having to buy the same album twice) but guess im in the minority here though.

In Australia I would say the only thing gaining Major steam is Pink......we have a large ' bogan' population

I don't know if SOON is the word.  I wouldn't expect it out until the Best Buy deal expires in late May at the earliest.

well axl said in a week or so...


All this expectation of a massive push for CD after the best buy deal expires is pure speculation by people who cant accept that CD's promotion was so piss poor....I hope to God ur right but the proof is ??

I only gave my friends this info based on the indications given. They all love the D which is the main thing though. Im glad thy didnt purchase it if a legit CD does come out though

Absolutely it's pure speculation.  Nobody knows for sure.  We're all well aware that things work slowly in the land of GNR, but on the same line things can turn on a dime.  We're usually not given too much of a warning, which leads to all the speculation.

On the one hand people think there's some rift between GNR and Best Buy and that's why there's been no promotion by the band, but there's really no proof to that that I'm aware of.  If there is something to that, then it would make sense to wait to re-issue until after the exclusive.  If there is no truth to that, then it would make sense to re-issue before the exclusive ends to help Best Buy maximize on their investment.  After all, they helped GNR a great deal in this process by shelling out the dough, it's really the least the band could do to show their appreciation.  Waiting until afterwards would be a slap in the face in my eyes.

Then again, a re-issue could also never come to fruition.  What you see, might be what you get.  Like you said, all is pure speculation, which is often the case.  But that is great news your friends liked what they heard.

Best Buy's promotion has been very limited.

Judging by their in store displays, they do the same stuff for some popular DVDs.

Universal Music hasn't done a lot either.


It's like a tripod and I guess they expect one leg (Axl/GN'R) to do everything. It's no wonder they're waiting with the promotion.




/jarmo

I find the fact that the record has even done as well as it has to be amazing in the face of all the obsticles you mentioned.

Definitely.



/jarmo

fans can do the forth leg.

I don't hate slow and steady as it will win the race eventually.

i agree.  its' all a matter of how you look at it.  to me, chinese democracy is a smash, considering how certain forces tried to tear it down and ruin it.  it's still sold MILLIONS of copies worldwide, and has plenty of time to become a runaway blockbuster in the us because the video hasn't been released, axl has yet to unleash the media blitz, a legendary tour is just about to start and it's possible that the label will even be rereleasing the album with a CORRECTED booklet and amazing new art.

The album is doing very well for almost zero promotion.

Any other album of a legendary band that just 'appears' in stores with a few billboards wouldn't be able to hold up as well at all.

I heard Better played in Best Buy today.

I don't know why, but that strikes me as hilarious.

The only thing I can speculate and say about it is, Axl wasn't into the Best Buy Deal


I think Axl was pretty much forced into the deal so the label could recoup the money and Axl is protesting by not doing any promotion or anything else.

I just don't believe Axl would let his life's work be treated this way. So something had to happen, I mean take the booklet for example, that pissed Axl off and made him not want to participate.

but he's the one who suffers, not the label. he has out his blood and sweat into this music and people are not getting to hear it because of the lack of promotion.

weren't you defending Best Buy's promotion efforts a couple months ago?

i saw Best Buy do commercials, ads in the newspapers, in-store displays.

talk about throwing Best Buy under the bus. sure, i would have liked to see Best Buy do a little more, but to say that BB wants Axl to do everything is just ridiculous, cause obviously they've done quite a bit themselves.

i think a more accurate statement is that Best Buy was expecting Axl to do SOMETHING.

yeah but his debts are completely paid off and he has that huge monkey off his back.

I can't be mad at Best Buy.

Thanks to them, we have a wonderful Guns N' Roses album to enjoy.

Spot on.

Its a really good album though :) One thing about CD is that its a major grower......shit promo though and the bands 90% responsible for that. Blaming Best Buy when theres been no vids, interviews etc....hmmmmm

If Axl does just want to record and release cool music and avoid the hollywood soap opera that is fame kudo's to him though....assuming thats the reason??? Otherwise it's a balls up pure n simple, im, not convinced cool music requires the soap opera and millions of $$ that led up to it though

Maybe I was.

I like to believe that things can change.

When I saw the ads etc. I thought it was the start.

Well it was, but it also ended were quickly. Three TV spots? I was expecting a bit more...

A cardboard display with the album? Cool, but they also had a similar stand for the Hancock DVD....




/jarmo

agreed. so your other statement that they are expecting Axl to do everything doesn't really make sense. cause clearly, Best Buy did do some promotion.

if the other two legs of the tripod has stepped up and done ANYTHING, the overall promotion wouldn't have been so bad. 

two things i'm forgetting though are the video game and the movie. who was responsible for that?

"Some" is the keyword.

Axl explained his part.

Judging by what that "some promotion" has been from Universal and Best Buy, it's clear that they didn't seem to take it too seriously.



Not Best Buy.



/jarmo

What else can they do when the artist himself doesn't do anything? No interviews, promotion or videos...  :)

So that's the reason why CD was featured in the Best Buy circular like 3-4 times? And that the TV spot was aired the same amount of times?

Is there a formula for that?

If Axl interview == true then TV spot > 4





I'm glad you're all happy with Best Buy so far.




/jarmo

It seems to me that you are blaming Best Buy for the sales. You are completely off base. BB has actually done a lot to promote the cd and they spent a lot of money to promote it for THEIR OWN SAKE because they are on the hook for 1.3 MM copies! So, it is in their best interest to get the word out and promote it so they can at least make their money back. You blaming them is completely wrong just from a plain economics point of view. You should think about the facts before you go off on your fallacious arguments...

i get the feeling that best buy and the label intentionally sabotaged axl and the album's release.  it's the only possible explanation for why they fucked up so badly.  

but for the life of me, i just can't figure out why they did it.  it's like they personally want to tear axl down.  i don't get it at all.

I wouldn't say Best Buy sabotaged the release I say more of the record label.  First single no video ? There was suppose to be two album covers that didn't go well, the booklet was messed up.  If there hyping it up as the Most Anticipated Album Ever than how come it gets no airplay on Radio hardly and no mention on TV ?

Best Buy's massive promotion consisted of a cardboard display, stickers, posters etc in their stores. In many stores that lasted a week or so.

So you go to a Best Buy store a week after the release and the album is at the cd section. Great promotion?

Then they had a few mentions in their circular.

Was the album ever a full page in the circular? They had a picture of Axl and a mention that the album would be out on Sunday November 23rd.

That's kinda easy to miss.

So unless you were at their store or looked in the circular, you might've missed it.


The TV spots and advertising outside of the Best Buy stores (billboards, print etc.) might be up to Universal Music to do something about.



If you think what Best Buy did was awesome, good for you. I guess we have different views on what an awesome promotional campaign in a store means.

I've read about what Walmart did for AC/DC. Seems like that was something special. The stuff Best Buy did for GN'R just didn't seem all too special.

Sorry all Best Buy and Universal Music fans if I hurt your feelings.






/jarmo

you know why you cant figure it out? Because they didnt sabotage anything!

Best Buys promotion was hideous. The label could careless because they got their money back.

For me it comes down to Axl and Best Buy. As crazy as it sounds, the release was rushed. As crazy as it sounds, Robins departure impacted this as well.

Best Buy has said that all they have required from GNR was a few singles and a video. That was pretty stupid on their part because a single and a video is not enough to promote and push an album. They should have requested/required more from Axl and the band. So that is where I think they are wrong

As for Axl and the band. They play a big part in this as well. We are two singles in and there still isnt a video. We are 3 months in and Axl and the band have not moved an inch to promote the album. (no performances, tv/radio interviews/magazine, etc)

When all said and done its up to the band to make this happen. You cant expect other people to do the grunt work. And frankly Im really surprised Axl didnt have a positive approach with the release of this album. I am surprised that he let this monmumental release come and go and not fight for it. But if hes content with everything then it shouldnt really matter to us because we have the album in our hands. Its his life not ours.


Best Buy is not Walmart and GNR arent ACDC. You cant compare the two

the end of the day Best Buy were just hurting themselves. I don't think it is fair to let Axl completely off the hook. I honestly dont think he was comfortable with the deal and how the album was released. I think he turned in the album expecting one thing, and when he realized it wasn't gonna go down that way, it was too late for him to take the album back.

It seems to me that if the record company were going to go down the route of a exclusivity deal with a chain store for one of the most awaited albums of the decade, then the chain would have had to come up with a mega deal to get that exclusivity.  I don't think money alone would have been enough to seal the deal.  There would have had to be a promise of certain levels of promotion and publicity by Best Buy themselves, which would then have run alongside promotion and publicity by the band themselves.

I have only read about the Best Buy stores and their levels of promotion, but I find it difficult to believe that the level of promotion Best Buy provided was what the record label and the band expected.

Therefore, rather than promote the album at present, thereby putting money into the pockets of Best Buy, promotion is being left until the end of the Best Buy deal, when the album will be re-released with the level of publicity that a band like Guns N' Roses and an album like Chinese Democracy deserves.

The reason you can't figure out why Best Buy/Universal sabotaged Chinese Democracy is because it never happened!

I agree that BB's promotion was not monumental, but they could have done everything under the sun to promote the album, but if Axl himself wouldn't do it, sales were going to suffer.  They probably stopped promoting it when they realized GN'R was not promoting it.  What were they going to do, the "Album that's so great, even the artist won't acknowledge it" campaign???  But if at the end of the day, it makes you feel better to lay blame at the feet of anybody but those it belongs with, so be it.

Isn't best buy small compared to walmart? Could be the recession hit them hard and tightened their budget.

They're certainly smaller, but I see Best Buy ads all the time, not to mention that if you have one of their RewardZone cards they email you and send you coupons.  AC/DC's promotion was pretty large...surprisingly so, really...so I'm not surprised it wasn't up to that level, but they could have tacked a five second blurb on the end of any ad saying "Guns N' Roses.  Chinese Democracy.  Out Now and only at Best Buy." 

Right on the front sliding doors at all 4 of my local BB there is a sticker promoting CD. Anyway, I don't blame BB either. If it wasn't for them and the bidding war between them and Walmart we might still be without CD. Like Axl said, the album that we have is a miracle. It is a miracle that it was even released. Now, I am an agnostic but I appreciate that emphasis. If BB even had a small part in getting this album out, then I think the only thing to say is "Thank you."

I'm extremely pleased that the album did come out.

I just don't agree with the "it's Axl's fault" mentality of some fans.



/jarmo

hmm  ??? had they done a music exclusive before this? if so how did they execute it?

do you think walmart would have been a better choice?

I remember when the exclusive rumour was in the air many here hated walmart and preferred bestbuy.

Is it a definite that the BB Exclusive period is ending this month and then it will open up to everywhere?  Or, is it just rumor? 

definitely not. rumour has it that's not this month.

edit* Or is there another rumour?

This month? I thought it was a 6 month exclusive.

Its certainly not all his fault but he definitely shares some of the blame.

Axl, Robin, and Best Buy all share responsibility for the horrendous promotion and lack luster sales.

yeah Jarmo, u have to admit, I figured a RS cover,  interview, at least a video or something.

Axl hasn't given one interview outside of the message board thing.


So he released the album, but he sure hasn't done anything to help either.

No, he hasn't.  But to be fair, if Axl feels he's been screwed over in the Best Buy deal, then he isn't going to do any publicity / promotion that would effectively send people there to spend money.

With our team we were able to negotiate thru a mountain of issues to be able to release the album. Within' those negotiations I believed I had secured agreements, commitments and assurances that would have allowed a promotional strategy to be implemented that obviously I've had a fair amount of time to consider. Unfortunately those things never happened and once the record was closer to release the biz went about things in their standard business as usual mode.




/jarmo

Still, that doesn't stop some interviews etc.

Axl knew the fans wanted to hear from him following the release of CD.

I believe this may have been one of the reasons he came to the forums.  By coming here, he could give some answers and information to his fans without going through the mainstream media.

Doing an interview at this stage would not just be promoting the album, it would be promoting Best Buy as well.

Which is why the whole message board thing was really cool and nice of Axl. He gets it in regards to that.

The thing I disagree with you on is the whole helping Best Buy thing by doing promotion.

This isnt just another GNR album. This is an album that will shape Axls legacy because of all the circumstances. You would think Axl would have came out fighting for this album and the decision to make it without the old band, etc.

Like I said earlier, for me, I think there are 3 main people to blame for what has happened up to this point.

But luckily for us we have the album and Axl was cool enough to talk with his true fans. We just are greedy because we want to see GNR take off in the mainstream...which is why we care about this kind of stuff....

Even if Axl has all the reasons to feel fooled by his label is that a valid reason to give up of 14 years work and let it fade away?
Some times we have to swalow some frogs so that we can endure.

OK...SO...NOW WHAT GNR CAN DO TO IMPROVE SALES?....TOUR?...INTERVIEWS?...VIDEO?............THEY DONT SAY ANYTHIGN ABOUT A TOUR TO SUPPORT THE ALBUM AND THE BETTER VIDEO ONLY GOD KNOWS WHEN WE GONNA SEE IT. GNR WORLD IS SO WIERD  ???

This keeps being quoted as some sort of reason for lack of promo. Its not. I feel this is more of an acknowledgment of a lack of promo. It still says NOTHING of what was planned or why there is still a lack of promo.  Axl is saying that the ball was dropped, but he doesnt say why he himself wont pick it up. And honestly, I dont really know what else Best Buy was supposed to do. They did adverts, commercials, and are selling the album.  They are a store. They sell CDs.

so now you're just making shit up. i haven't seen anyone say they are happy with Best Buy. i also haven't seen anyone say it's entirely Axl's fault.

but at least Best Buy did something. and that was my original point. best buy clearly did not expect axl to do everything.

it's funny how the tables have turned....people were slamming the Best Buy deal and they were called "haters." turns out all those haters were right!

Maybe those "haters" like to slam everything GN'R does? Maybe that's why they're called haters in the first place...


Best Buy did something, that's true. They put the album in the circular a few times and put a cardboard display in their stores.

They do this "something" to many other releases that aren't exclusives to that chain. My point has been all along that, I personally as a GN'R fan, was expecting more from them.



But without Axl putting that record out, they wouldn't even have done that.

So by saying Axl did nothing, maybe he did the impossible by actually getting it to Best Buy in the first place.  :P





/jarmo

Shouldnt you, as a GNR fan, expect more from GnR then?  Or are Best Buy employees supposed to do interviews with rock mags and tv shows?  Is Best Buy supposed to tour to support and promote CD?  Im not saying that Best Buy couldnt have done more, but I dont feel that its entirely their responsibility. They gave GNR an outlet. They took economic pressure off the label. 

crow, its the same as usual. there are no plans in gnr. the past 9 yrs back that up. the release of the album cant even break that shocking and head scratching reality.

Sure. If I couldn't read and understand that things didn't go as planned.



/jarmo

Like I said before, saying things didnt go as planned is stating the obvious. I didnt need to read Axls comment to know things "didnt go as planned."  Still, no one is saying whats going on now.
Its like, "Hey Axl, why no promo?"
 "Well, things didnt go as planned" 
"Umm, I see that, thats why Im asking,"Why no promo?"

Haven't we played this game before?  Like for the last 9 years?  Did people not come on here and costantly whine and complain about not having the album, not getting updates?  Now people HAVE the album, yet they return to whine and complain about why we're not getting promo?  Is this a never ending cycle?  Stop worrying about things you can't control.

pretty simple really.   those who thought releasing the album was going to make Axl Rose do things in any way but his own were setting themselves up for disappointment.   

Axl doesn't work for any of us.   He can do whatever the fuck he chooses to do.

so just because original plans don't go through means you can say fuck it and not do anything?

When has it ever been the responsibility for an Electronics Store to promote an album and not the band.

This is the only problem I have with this forum

I mean, why can't anyone just admit that the release ball got dropped by not only Best Buy but by Axl and the label.

It doesn't make u any less of a fan i promise.

I remember a time when a band only had to put out a good album and a good stage show and that would be enough for the fans.  GNR are has done both.  Why can't everyone just be happy with that?  

At what point in time did being a talented musician mean you had to be equally skilled in publicity and marketing?

I think everyone is overestimating the effect of a video in today's world.  Great videos do not translate into album sales.  Perfect example:  Weezer.

Last year, Weezer's Pork & Beans video was the most popular music video on youtube with 16 million hits.  But the album only sold 300,000 copies.

Where do you get this "not do anything"?

Axl himself said things were planned for the future:  There will be proper interviews and some are already scheduled for much later intentionally. God idea, bad?we?ll see. I?m happy the record?s out the rest? one nightmare at a time.


He had reason(s) not to do the promotional things last year. We don't know the specifics and I suspect that if we did, some of you would still be pointing fingers at him.





/jarmo

Great points!  While I'd love Axl Rose to be a marketing extraordinaire, I'm quite fine with him being a kickass frontman of a kickass band.  I'll take what I can get.

still yet, people are on here blaming Best Buy.
How can u blame an electronics store? they can't make videos or go on tour or talk to music magazines.

I'm not saying Axl purposely hasn't done anything, but for right now, this moment, he has to take as much blame as the label or Best Buy.

What else should he have done?

A.  Release the album? - done
B.  Exclusive song in Rock Band - done
C.  Release a kicking track to radio (Chinese Demcracy) - Done
D.  Release a follow-up (Better) - Done
E.  Do interviews (instead of doing it with a magazine...he opted to let the fans interview him on MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS!!!.  these interviews went onto be re-printed all over the internet) - Done
F.  Release a song to A-list movie with Ridley Scott & Leo diCaprio - Done
G.  Attach CD song to a major sport like NCAA football & WWE - Done
H.  Sign an Exclusive Deal with a major retailer and gain a ton Publicity by doing it - Done
I.  Have a major well-received world-wide tour headlining huge events - Done

What else should he have done?  Win a Golden Globe?  Play in the SuperBowl?  Been selected as Obama's VP?  Solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? 

I mean honestly...give the guy a break.

Dude, u can feel how u want to feel. If u think in your heart, honestly, that is how a major legendary artist releases an album, and not just any album, but the most anticipated album ever, Great for u.

I personally feel this should've been a monumental event and it shouldn't have came out unless things were 100 percent ready to go.

there should've been tour plans, a lead video, radio promo, Cover and feature article in RS...


Maybe u don't care that your supposed favorite band is no longer huge, I do care. I want GNR to be the biggest most kick ass band in the world again and they could be but choose not to be and as  a fan,right or wrong it aggravates me.

Nowhere did I blame them for that.

I clearly pointed out what they have done and how they could've done more if they wanted to.

People are saying Best Buy did a lot. I didn't see it at the stores I visited during the album's first week.



/jarmo

I figure paying so much for the album, they probably were a bit leery especially with the economy in dumping thousands and thousands of dollars into big time promo when it seemed Axl wasn't really into it.

U can't blame them for just cutting their losses and hoping that they can sell their inventory.


I think Best Buy are more of the victim in this to be honest. U pay that much money for the most anticipated release and u are stuck with about a million copies.

Well, since he IS the leader of Guns N Roses and he (literally) promised us a massive campaign, a Better video etc, then it is very much fair to blame him. There is only so much a record company can do in a situation where the artist decides to do nothing. Or do you think we should believe if/when he pop-ups in a month or two to tell it was not his fault none of these promised things happened... You know there is a pattern with Axl: Things get fucked up, he goes silent, time goes by and he blames everyone else except himself.

It's too bad really as the album is good.  :)

you know what tho?  thats really all that should matter.     The album is great, we finally have it.   Its time to stop the constant complaining.    If this shit made me as unhappy as it does some of these folks, I'd find a new hobby.

I stopped caring about promo when I had the album in my hands.

AND I hear Better is gaining major steam...
Hello Topic.

Maybe the coffers are empty ?

Isnt this a discussion board?  Fans use it as an outlet to discuss opinions and thoughts on certain topics that pertain to GnR.  Kinda the whole point of us being here. Is it supposed to be 20 threads of "Isnt Axl Great!"?  The topic is about Better and its radio play, which leads to discussions about the promo and lack there of of the album. 

Re release the album when the Best Buy deal is up ! have two album covers, release the Better video, announce a tour, Axl interview's his way.

That would be cool, and change some songs on the new release.... all this together can make some changes in the poorly 'campaign' so far

and with 'change some songs' I mean: put some new/other songs on it....

Yeah they're small compared to Wal-Mart.  And probably more importantly, people going to Best-Buy are typically looking for electronics of some sort.  Outside of that, not much you can buy there.  But I can go to Wal-Mart, and buy bread, new pots and pans, an iron, a deck of cards, a shovel, some new fish for my aquarium (and an aquarium if I don't have one), charcoal, and Black Ice.  In other words, Wal-Mart puts Best Buy's foot traffic to shame.  Definitely would have been better for sales to go with Wal-Mart, and I'm sure they tried. 

But I wouldn't say that the recession is what killed the advertising campaign.  We were knee-deep in a recession when Best Buy and GN'R announced the exclusive in the first place.

He promised a massive campaign?

Even if he did, maybe it didn't start yet?



According to your logic, it's always fair to blame Axl. After all, he's in GN'R.

So he should be blamed for everything relating to GN'R.  ::)



Poor record company. They can do nothing.






/jarmo

Haha. Record labels create whole personas and careers for people regularly. It's part of why they're all being put out of business. There's no reason why they couldn't have done more with this release.

As for the last comment; yes it really is too bad.

actually yes

Its like in Sports. when u are the QB or head coach, u get praise for the wins, but u take the fall for the losses.

If an NFL football team goes 0-16, they don't fire the popcorn vendor.


Its Axl's band, he gets the praise or blame.

Fair? Maybe not, but that's just how it works.

You can't be serious. You really believe that all that is required here is for Axl Rose to do interviews and all would be well? The label has done everything they can?

Axl is a miracle worker.

By going on MTV, ads will suddenly appear everywhere promoting the album, the record company will start working radio to get the single played etc!


By the way, that's sarcasm.





/jarmo

lets be real and a dude earlier hit the nail on the head. CD didn't sell well for 2 reasons mainly IMO

1.Best Buy is a little store but that is GNR and the label's fault because THEY chose that store.


2.lack of a huge crossover single.  Singles drive album sales and without that huge radio smash, u just aren't selling any records these days. Ask Kid Rock what having a smash hit can do for your album.  Do GNR have a crossover smash on CD? 

Yes.



/jarmo

No, but does that mean Axl shouldnt come out/go down fighting?

I dont think it was unfair for people to think that when CD was finally released that the band would be ready to go with videos, interviews, and late night/award show performances. And of course a tour. If gnr did all that and the album still didnt sell then atleast they went down trying.

D, the only song that might be a cross over hit is This I Love. I am surprised Better didnt take off. We all thought it would. This I Love could be the song that gets peoples attention. Other than that I dont think there is one.

Jarmo, u gotta name it! U can't leave me hanging on the title


I honestly thought If The World would've been a perfect single. That song sounds like it has been a classic for 30 years.

Sorry has great potential

TIL i dont know............ Gets kind of repetitive

Prostitute maybe...............

I think many of the songs could be hits.





/jarmo

Re Release with "Sorry" and an epic video would be massive.

Look, I love Chinese Democracy. Sorry is one of my all time favorite GnR songs.  However, is re-releasing an album that undersold expectations already really an answer?
"hey, the album didnt sell what we thought it would, what do we do?"  "Uh, we could release it again, yeah thatll work"
Gone will be all the fanfare if CD finally seeing the light of day.  Gone will be the expectations from the public to hear it.   

Re-releasing an album with proper promotion might be one option.

Or just promote the album thats already out. That might work too.

Since Axl claims that the version of CD that was released was not the version he anticipated, at least in terms of the booklet and layout, yeah it makes all the sense in the world.  

Kanye West re-released his new CD like 3 weeks after its initial release.  It helped his sales.

Since Best Buy already bought their copies upfront, I think they'll wait for the exclusivity to end before they re-issue the album the way Axl initially envisioned.

That's my guess as well.

 Re release the CD all u want, but until Axl does some promo and announces a tour or something, video, something, the album won't sale just cause it is re-released

U have to wonder if he is burning some bridges doing that also

u get what? 13 million from BB, don't promote it, only to wait till the exclusive is up and re release it and THEN start promoting it......... seems a bit shady

so next album, i bet no store will touch an exclusive.

I see what you're saying, but Best Buy bought a specific amount, 1.5 million or whatever it was.  They're gonna sell through those one way or another.  I don't know if they planned on selling them in a certain time period, but they knew the risk.  And I don't know the specific logistics but even if they don't turn a profit on the deal you can't say that's completely Axl and GNR's fault for lack of promo.  And I'm not speaking about who's responsible for promo, whether it be Axl, Best Buy, the record company.  I'm speaking more about the fact that Best Buy made the deal thinking they'd get added foot traffic into the store leading to sales on higher end items.  BUT, I don't' have to explain the fact that we're kneck deep in a recession right now so that hasn't exactly worked out as they planned.  Even if people were rushing in droves to Best Buy to get CD, I don't see them buying stereo systems, digital cameras, plasma TV's, etc. on their way out the door.  Money is tight for most everyone right now so in essence this deal was destined to fail from the start.

Also Axl did say that things promotion-wise were planned for further in the future.  I know Axl has said some things in the past that didn't quite come to fruition, so we'll just have to wait and see.  But it all would seem to make sense that the promotion would kick in once the exclusive deal runs out and they're able to release the version that Axl sees fit on a larger scale.

My opinion for what its worth is that the album will be promoted fully once the Best Buy exclusive is over. I think its fair to say that the GnR/Best Buy relationship is on the rocks and GnR have put things on hold till then. It makes perfect sent to push the album again once it is available everywhere in the US. I also believe that if the album started to shift in the US it would lift sales in other countries (I'm in the UK). I think once this exlusive period is over we will get a proper release of Better and a video, hopefully some tour news and (in my dreams) an interview.

It was pretty apparent with the lack of a real push for Better that the record label had no real interest in promoting the album post-release.  They cashed their check, recouped their costs and essentially realized that every album sold outside the US was profit.  From a business standpoint it's the smart thing to do for them.  Although it sucks for Best Buy, it seems to me that their business team made a serious miscalculation

They saw the success that Wal-Mart exclusives had but failed to realize that expecting to match that success was unrealistic.  Not only do they have less than a quarter as many locations as Wal-Mart, they don't have even close to the repeat business that Wal-Mart has.  Millions of people shop at Wal-Mart once a week, or more often than that, for everything from food to household supplies to electronics to whatever else they need in life.  I would bet that aside from a few rare cases, even Best Buy's more frequent customers only go there once a month or so.  I've only been to Best Buy maybe 7 or 8 times in my life and one of those times was to buy CD. 

Spot on.

When I buy CDs, I go to Best Buy. I always have. Even before stores like Sam Goodey and Tower went under. It was always Best Buy. Maybe Target occasionally. Never Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart does not specialize in music.  Have you seen Wal-Marts music section?  Its a joke.  Best Buy at least has more than one album by many more artists than Wal-Mart carries.  Saying that people dont go to Best Buy for music is just wrong.  They just dont go there to buy Chinese Democracy.

I have only been there twice.

The Rolling Stones' "Biggest Bang" DVD

Chinese Democracy.

I support independent record stores.

My one and only independent record store only sells clothes now.

Which store would that be?

Just like I stated a few threads ago, I felt that BB did a great job. Sorry to disagree with King jarmo, but so does the real King disagree with king jarmo and I'll quote, "Best Buy has been great." See Billboard article 2/6/2009

Of course did you expect Axl to shit all over the Best Buy situation ? Since they are selling his album and he needs that ? I'm sure blame on Best Buy is gonna be there. The company has really no experince in promoting Exclusive albums like Wal-Mart has. In the end Rose took the high road here.....since the Exclusive deal did allow CD to get released.

Backside Records in Burbank. Ironically, they do have Chinese Democracy.

Atomic Records on Magnolia is much better.

And if you ever come out to my part of the valley, check out Second Spin.

agreed about the label.
as for bestbuy I don't think they miscalculated. as CD made that many GNR fans like you visit their store.
when general sales with the record company's push starts it won't suck for best buy either.

"Best Buy has been great."

W. Axl Rose.

It is also important to note that the Best Buy deal is only exclusive in America.

In other countries the CD is sold in a number of major stores such as Target.

It regularly features in their catalogues (as well as catalogues for other stores).

In fact, leading up to Christmas Target had a 2 CDs for a special price promo-

CD was part of the selection alongside Kings of Leon, The Killers, Cold Play, Death Magnetic.

When I looked, all the GN'R CDs were pretty much gone from the display.  : ok:

I would think you are in the minority there...


I didnt... I bought my copies online and didnt get anything else... Hell I walked through best buy the other day laughing @ their ridiclous prices on everything, from movies to stereos... They are like all of the other crap shacks that have gone unver over the years...

And i'm not saying this because i'm bitter about CD in anyway.. Its because they sell copies of the love guru for $18.99, and any given cd for $16.99 still....

I think Interscope saw the strong sales overseas and were shocked. If you reasonably promote an album like this showed....it can sell. I mean wow...thats an impressive number overseas  (2.6 million) . Imagine if they honestly got behind the freakin thing here and overseas. They could have a major .....major hit on their hands.

I still think it will be a big hit once the music video comes out ! I really think that will do the trick.

                     To me it comes down to a tour to promote the record. You have to be seen on TV , be showed trying to do that. The best possible thing for Guns n Roses is they need to play SNL , do some morning talk shows over the summer when they have live concerts and do VH1 special about the album. To me thats gonna help the album ....being seen on a national TV level.

Appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  New show, new band, he's a big fan of the band.  Reference 2002 VMA's.  Book it!

JIMMY FALLON has a show???  What channel?  When?  I wouldn't doubt that he has an 'account' here...huge GnR fan!

He's going to be taking over for Conan before he gets bumped up to the Tonight Show.

just wondering, has any rock stations around the world been mentioning that billboard interview on the radio ad their thoughts on it?

When playing any era GNR our rock station they have mentioned it here and again. There's one female DJ in particular who LOVES CD and she mentioned it after playing Better on Sunday night. She ofcourse mentioned the part where Axl said he or Slash will die before a reunion but she then when on to say "from the sounds of the song I just played... I'm ok with it".

After playing CD the DJ on Sirius/XM Octane, Bodhi, commented on the Billboard Q&A.  He mentioned how Axl would be open to working with Izzy and playing lIve with him again in the future.  Also said he would be open to playing with Duff but not with multiple ex members at a time. He then said that Axl didn't mention anything about Slash as far as working with in the future.  Maybe he meant that they won't work together again.  It was strange wording though.  You'd think he'd harp on Axl's apparent hatred for Slash.

^Axl's statement clearly points out his feelings, he has made this public knowlege, in regards to original lineup, he has set definate boundries for himself. I don't foresee a future in regards to this topic, there is no more wonderment!! What is to talk about? Not trying to be bitchy though!! :P ;)

On topic, I don't listen to radio everyday, yet it seems when I do, 9 times out 10 I will hear it, although, with out comment more often than not, It still kinda feels shocking to me when I hear it :o

The station that I work for/with had it as an article on their website the other day.

http://www.979x.com/Article.asp?id=1150474&spid=28211

Huh, you work for them? That's really the only station I bother listening to. (Mainly because I don't get a whole lot of stations in too clear)

Haha - not DIRECTLY. I work for JR 93.7 (the cluster's country station), but we're in the same building, and owned by the same company, so I tend to know what's going on since their studio is right next door to ours.  ;)

anyone think that they have now decided to scrap the release of the video. I know they have made vids in the past that didnt get released...maybe release it later as an afterthought?

either way the song in incredible. It would just be cool to see it

No, I think we'll see it. Just not maybe on the time line some of us would prefer.

Well there finalizing the video as we speak, so maybe in a couple of weeks or a month.

im not american so i dont know this so i would appreciate it if somebody could help me out with this. what would be good radio shows with big listening audiences in which to request Better?

the videos might not come out for some while yet and the song's slipping down. if we request it, more people will have a chance to be introduced to it.

"Better" starting to lose MAJOR steam.

Do requests even work anymore?  Most stations have their playlists decided in advance.

From what I've been told by the station I listen too, they have a program director that does decide what they will play. Not down to the exact song though. For example, when the new Metallica came out, they were told to play Metallica once an hour. SO a specific time period is designated to play certain things. As far as requests go, they said they are able to play maybe 1-2 an hour. Does that make sense?

Hope isnt to late when the video comes out...

And your program director probably got a call from Warner Bros to make that decision.

See what I'm getting at?

Stations played CD when it came out for about 4 weeks and thats it, they dont play it anymore, and "Better"... forget about it!...but those motherf%$^& still play the new Metallica and ACDC and a lot of more new releases every single day! makes me sick, I turn on the radio and I wanna hear GNRs new music, but no.....they just put WTTJ and SCOM

Yup.

Yeah, because no band in the history of rock has ever said they would never do a reunion only to then do a reunion some time after saying that.  Im not saying it's gonna happen, odds are against it,but you just don't know.  Someone could swallow their pride and offer an apology for whatever happened and all could be forgiven.  Or they could stay mad until they become old and bitter.  Point is.....things change.

Trust me.

Playlists are decided song by song sometimes days in advance.

How do I know?

I was doing it earlier today.

I live in a small town, and our radio stations come mainly out of Waco.  I don't listen to the radio much, as I have my CD in all the time, but I have some students telling me they hear Better a lot, and they love it.  They know how much I live GnR, so they are all excited about telling me.  I think since we are so small, stuff hits here later.  Regardless, right now, we are breeding a whole new generation of Texan GnR fans!!!

You could try requesting on Sirius/XM Octane.  It's satellite radio, with about 20 million customers, although obviously not all 20 million listen to Octane.  When Chinese Democracy came out it was #1 on their weekly countdown, then they scrapped the countdown as Sirius and Octane merged.  Recently the countdown came back and neither CD or Better have been present.  So they need the votes.  They also play Scraped and Shackler's pretty frequently, sometimes TWAT and Sorry.

You can request online
http://www.sirius.com/octane

thank you very much, faldor.

To rabia and anyone interested

thank you very much, ppbebe.

i hope other people also make use of that list.

no prob rabia I'm for your positive attitude.
but I can't take the credit as it's destry's.

sweet ! thanks for the list !

I think alot of the stuff is not being played is because NO ONE tunes in to the radio. I don't. i have my iphone for music or cds. I think that has alot to do with it not getting air play. Because if you want to hear it just put the CD on or play your ipod. And the fact that the album is not getting pushed to the radio by best buy, the band, or the record comp is hurting it as well. Once a video comes out or some news of a tour come out they will play the shit out of it. But for now it seems in limbo till something like that happens. Good thing is that it seems ppl are like the album more and more once they got past the fact its not old guns and gave it a shot. So when some news comes out or a video the album should pick up steam.

I think more people listen to the radio than watch music videos. People listen to the radio more than you think.  Driving, in the office, on a construction site, at work, etc.  Getting heard on the radio is more important than having a video. Radio is still where people are exposed to new music. If it wasnt for listening to the radio, I would have never heard of Kings of Leon, MGMT, and Shiny Toy Guns over the last few months.

I never heard Better on the radio, ever!.... fuckers!

that's extraordinary work by destry. supercool!

Any updates regarding the video for "Better"?

Nope.

So can you put "Better" into the playlist Every Day?

;)

like 2 weeks in advance.  :yes:

You know it might be a novel idea, but maybe a petition or a mass request form for "Better" to get played should be sent to a few stations.

Via the major forums, it shouldn't be that difficult to get a hundred or so signatures.

Yay, from all over the world to those sluggish us stations. CD is coming from everywhere. :D
But for now, maybe we better save the salvo for the right moment.

In the UK, PlanetRock (digital classic rock station) play a LOT of Cd stuff, I heard prostitute just the other day.  I never hear much new stuff from AC/DC or Metallica there, but CD is played an awful lot.  I've heard them play TWAT, Prostitute, IRS, Madagascar and CD at least, and other . 

Thanks, now I know which stations to request them in California.

come to think about it Z92 out of Omaha Ne. really doesn't play Better at all anymore, usually its either CD if anything.....new that is

I've only heard "Better" on the radio twice (and on the same station) since the album came out.
:(

I haven't heard "Better" on the radio in probably two months. Seems the shitty rock stations around here that suck the dicks of Nickelback have given up on Chinese Democracy already.

Sounds like there gonna probaly re release CD and have Better be the song with the video as its promotion.

I feel this is exactly what Axl Bond wants. He is setting up the public, radio stations, rock communities and critics. See once the tour is set and tickets start to go on sale the curiosity is going to prevail. What will happen is the critics, news reporters will attend some of these shows to do a review. Radio stations will do the same too. All Guns & Roses and Axl have to do at that point is put on an excellent well performed show and kick the hell out of the audience. That's all. If they can pull that part off (which I'm sure they will because G&R was and still is a live rock & roll band) than everything else is going to fall into place. Live performance is were it's at for G&R. : )  ;D

I don't understand why everything has dried up again. Where's the video? Is Better still out there as a single?

read my last post in this thread.  It's seems the most likely educated guess, half to wait and see.

Yeah I hope so. Seems the sensible thing to do now.
Would this tie in with the exclusivity contract ending with Best Buy?

Here in finland they play Better at least two, three times a day on Radio Rock FM, the only pure Rock N' Roll radiostation in finland. It's kinda growing on me, but I wish there was a video to go with it..

They're playing Guns a lot LESS on Sirius/XM Octane.  I used to hear any one of a number of the new songs a couple times a day but now it's a couple times a week at best.

WGRD rock alternative in G.R. plays "Better" on a regular basis. I teach around the G.R. area, and today "Better" came on, and my class of 9th grade Honors students (22 girls) started to dance and sing to it. I was shocked.

That just goes to show you that smart people LOVE good music, aka Guns N' Roses.

I agree. I was an honor student in high school.

So to wrap it up;

Pile of teenagers dance to Better -> Smart people LOVE good music -> Smart people love GNR -> Annie is smart and amazing

Ok.

Butterfly flaps it's wings in Japan -> There are thousands of butterflies in Africa -> Ebola originates from Africa  -> I has*Ebola
FUCK! :(

*Please note the elementary grammar fuck up. Must mean I'm not smart. So I can't dance to This I love while being in one of those fucked up sterile quarantine booths? That's a lose -lose right there.

And people think I'm weird.

Better is on the most played list on finnish rock station, Radio Rock

http://www.radiorock.fi/musiikki/default.htm